All Chapters of FAKING IT WITH MY MILLIONAIRE FRIEND : Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Robert leaned back in his chair, watching Evelina carefully as she recounted her story—though it was more about herself than any actual substance. “Van Buren,” she had said, in a somewhat proud tone, “I just came back from abroad, you know. Had to deal with some family matters. My stepfather’s funeral in San Francisco and all that.”That name struck him immediately. He knew the Van Burens, or more precisely, her stepfather—a late wealthy merchant who had made his fortune in shipping and real estate. The man had built a small empire, but Robert had heard the rumors. When he passed, only a measly 2% of his assets were left to his step daughter and her mother, the rest going to other family members or locked up in trusts. It was no secret in his circle that her mother had a reputation for being difficult and extravagant, and Evelina wasn’t far behind.Robert's eyes narrowed subtly. She hadn't given him much detail, but her hints were enough. He knew more than she thought. He could practi

ROBERT'S POV I sat at the table, trying my best to ignore Evelina’s constant flirting. God, she was doing the most. Every other sentence out of her mouth was some over-the-top compliment about how I “shouldn’t be this handsome and single.” I tried to keep my face neutral, but inside, I was getting more and more annoyed. "I mean, I’m single too, Robert," she said, batting her lashes like I hadn't heard that line a hundred times. "Maybe we could bond?" Bond? What the hell is that supposed to mean? I forced a polite smile and nodded, hoping she’d get the hint that I wasn’t interested. I didn’t want to be rude, but this was getting ridiculous. I was just trying to enjoy a quiet evening, and she had turned it into some weird game I didn’t sign up for. And then, out of nowhere, she pulled that stupid stunt with her ring. She giggled—an actual giggle—like we were in some bad romantic comedy, and let her ring “accidentally” fall to the floor. "Oops," she said, in this high-pitched, f

Robert leaned back in his chair, holding the phone in one hand while running the other through his hair. "Yes, Sophia, you were talking about something earlier today. Something about your ex?"Sophia shifted slightly on the screen, her voice coming through the phone with a tinge of hesitation. "Oh, that. My ex-boyfriend is going to be attending the cruise."Robert frowned. "And you don’t want him to?""It’s not exactly that I don’t want him to," she sighed, "but it’s complicated.""Wait a minute, what’s his name?" Robert asked, curiosity piqued. "Do I know him? Was he a classmate of ours back in high school?""His name’s Charles Brown," Sophia replied, almost like she was bracing herself.Robert’s brows shot up. Charles Brown? The name tugged at something familiar in the back of his mind. "Hold up. Charles Brown? That sounds way too familiar." Without wasting a second, Robert grabbed his MacBook off a nearby table, still on FaceTime with Sophia. "Give me a minute."He quickly typed th

I was finishing up my makeup, just adding the final touches to my eyeliner, when I decided to text Robert. “I’m ready,” I typed quickly, still trying to keep my hands steady as I applied mascara. Almost immediately, my phone buzzed with his reply.“Ok, text me your exact address.”I sent it to him, still getting excited about seeing him. It was just a chill weekend, but it was also three days before the boat cruise—our boat cruise—and I couldn’t help but feel a little giddy. I checked myself in the mirror one last time. I had on a pastel-colored sweater, soft and cozy, but still cute enough for whatever the day might throw at me. My black leggings hugged me just right, showing off my legs, and my ankle boots gave the outfit that little extra edge. I added a simple necklace and left my hair loose. Casual, but still good enough to turn heads, I hoped.Right as I was finishing up, I heard the faint urrung of a car engine outside. I frowned, pausing mid-brush stroke.Ge was here so soon? I

SOPHIA'S POV I was sitting on the couch, kind of zoning out while watching this cooking show on TV, some chef making a fancy pasta dish that looked way too complicated for a casual dinner. My phone was in my lap, but I wasn’t really paying attention to it. The weekend vibe had completely taken over, and I was feeling relaxed. Plus, the desserts I’d had earlier were making me feel a little too comfortable.And then, out of nowhere, Robert’s voice broke through the TV noise. I glanced up, but honestly, the words didn’t really register. What did register, though, was how damn hot he looked. I mean, for a second, I just froze. Robert was standing at the bottom of the stairs, one hand in his pocket, looking like he stepped right out of some luxury magazine. He was wearing this Tom Ford denim shirt that was perfectly fitted, highlighting his broad shoulders and chest, and charcoal grey pants that looked both casual and expensive at the same time. And, of course, he had on these black Chri